Targeting guide and method for an implant

Abstract

A system comprises a first implant including first and second screw receiving holes having respective first and second longitudinal axes. A second implant includes third and fourth screw receiving holes having respective third and fourth longitudinal axes. First and second drill guides have respective fifth and sixth longitudinal axes. A targeting guide is provided for aligning the first and second drill guides with each of the first and second implants simultaneously, so that the first, third and fifth longitudinal axes lie along a same line as each other, and the second, fourth and sixth longitudinal axes lie along a same line as each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 an intramedullary nail including first and second screw receiving holes; 
 a bone plate including third and fourth screw receiving holes; 
 first and second drill guides; and 
 a targeting guide for aligning the first drill guide with the first and third screw receiving holes and for aligning the second drill guide with the second and fourth screw receiving holes simultaneously, wherein the targeting guide is configured to be directly coupled to the intramedullary nail, the first drill guide, and the second drill guide, with the first and second drill guides having respective longitudinal axes that are parallel to each other when the first and second drill guides are coupled to the targeting guide, and wherein the first and second drill guides are configured to engage the third and fourth screw receiving holes, respectively, and to hold the bone plate, and wherein the targeting guide is not directly coupled to the bone plate, and wherein the first and second drill guides are slideable with respect to the targeting guide along the respective longitudinal axes of the first and second drill guides to adjust a distance between the intramedullary nail and the bone plate by sliding the bone plate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the first and second drill guides. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second drill guides have threaded portions at respective distal ends thereof, and the third and fourth screw receiving holes have mating threads for engaging the threaded portions. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the targeting guide with the intramedullary nail attached thereto can rotate around a longitudinal axis of the intramedullary nail. 
     
     
       4. A method comprising:
 (a) attaching an end of a first implant to a targeting guide, the first implant having a first longitudinal axis and first and second screw receiving holes; 
 (b) inserting first and second drill guides in the targeting guide so longitudinal axes of the first and second drill guides are parallel to each other; and 
 (c) attaching a second implant to the first and second drill guides without directly coupling the second implant to the targeting guide, the second implant having a second longitudinal axis and third and fourth screw receiving holes, wherein the first and second drill guides engage the third and fourth screw receiving holes, respectively, so the first and second drill guides hold the second implant in a position with the second longitudinal axis parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the first screw receiving hole aligned with the third screw receiving hole, and the second screw receiving hole aligned with the fourth screw receiving hole; and 
 (d) adjusting a distance between the first implant and the second implant by sliding the first and second drill guides within the targeting guide along the respective longitudinal axes of the first and second drill guides to slide the second implant in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the first and second drill guides. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising rotating the targeting guide around the first longitudinal axis of the first implant after the attaching the second implant. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein step (c) includes engaging the third screw receiving hole with a threaded portion of the first drill guide and engaging the fourth screw receiving hole with a threaded portion of the second drill guide. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , wherein step (b) includes:
 inserting first and second sleeves into respective first and second openings of the targeting guide, and 
 inserting the first and second drill guides into the respective first and second sleeves. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first implant is an intramedullary nail and the second implant is a bone plate, the method further comprising: 
 inserting the intramedullary nail into at least one bone; and 
 rotating the targeting guide around the first longitudinal axis of the intramedullary nail; and 
 drilling a first hole in the at least one bone using the first drill guide, the first hole penetrating into the first screw receiving hole of the intramedullary nail. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
       sliding the first and second drill guides within the targeting guide so as to position the bone plate on a surface of the at least one bone;
 removing the first drill guide; and 
 inserting a first bone screw through the third screw receiving hole and into the first screw receiving hole. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 drilling a second hole in the at least one bone using the second drill guide, the second hole penetrating into the second screw receiving hole of the intramedullary nail; 
 removing the second drill guide; and 
 inserting a second bone screw through the fourth screw receiving hole and into the second screw receiving hole.